Layla

Described as a ‘drag fairytale’, the feature debut from writer-director Amrou Al-Kadhi follows the titular drag queen (Bilal Hasna) as they tackle questions of identity, family, and community, in the midst of beginning a new relationship with advertising executive Max. Although this might seem like a recipe for a trauma-laden narrative like so many we’ve seen before, Layla is different: even when it touches on complex subjects it maintains a sense of levity. It’s a bold, vibrant and nuanced portrait of the realities of queer life today and about doing what’s best for yourself, and a film that is absolutely worth watching — the perfect way to kick off our LGBTQ+ History Month season!

Cerys Bardsley